Covid-19 proved to be an opportunity for thugs who came up with different ways to cheat people who already were struggling to get basic health facilities like beds and oxygen. These thugs sold fake injections and black-marketed medicines at high rates. Now an inter-state racket has been busted, in which Sudeep Mukherjee of Rajnagar in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, set up a fake drug manufacturing company, Max Relief Healthcare. The company, set up in Solan of Himachal Pradesh, manufactured and sold fake drugs (Tablets) like Favimax-200 and Favimax-400, used to treat Covid-19 patients in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh.
While the Ahmedabad crime branch, has registered an offence against Mukherjee under sections of IPC, including 308, Mukherjee has already been arrested by Mumbai police for selling spurious drugs Favipiravir to several wholesale drug dealers in Kandivali and Goregaon (east).
Orissa police are also conducting an inquiry against Max Relief Healthcare after fake Favipiravir tablets were recovered from two wholesalers in Cuttack in June 2021. Chief Minister of the state, Navin Patnaik, had ordered a probe into the matter.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime branch) DP Chudasma, Food and Drug Control department conducted a preliminary inquiry, after being tipped off by Mumbai police. They found that Aarmed Formulation Pvt Ltd located at Dev Aurum in Prahladnagar, Ahmedabad, had purchased the drug. They then sold the huge stock of Favimax-200 Favimax-400 from Max Relief Healthcare and sold it in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh.
However, it is mentioned in the FIR lodged by the Food and Drug Control department that Aurum Pvt Ltd was provided with fake documents like renewal certificates, GMP certificate of WHO, and certificate for manufacturing Favipiravir, which is an essential drug in the manufacturing of Favimax -200 and Favimax-400.
Investigating officer NL Desai of the crime branch said they have asked Jyoti Kumar Agarwal of Aarmed Formulation Pvt. Ltd to remain present before them.
Speaking to VoI, Joyti Kumar Agarwal said that he was called by the crime branch on July 7, 2021. But they were busy then and so, was asked to come later.
“We were unaware that the medicine was fake and did not contain Favipiravir. We are cooperating with the investigating agency with the primary investigation. Max Relief Healthcare provided us with fake documents,” said Agarwal.
WHAT IS SECTION 308 OF IPC
Section 308 of IPC says that whoever does any act with such intention or knowledge and under such circumstances that if he by the act causes death, the person would be guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. If found guilty the person or persons could face imprisonment up to three years or fine or both.
CRIME BRANCH TEAM TO LEAVE FOR MUMBAI
Inspector NL Desai said that a team from the crime branch will soon leave for Mumbai to question the key accused Sudeep Mukherjee who is now in Judicial custody in Mumbai jail.
